Egbert spencer



- UNITED ROBERT sPENcuR, or NEW YORK, N. x.

srRiNe-sAnDLE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent No.

To all whom 15 may` concern l Be it known that I, ROBERT SPENCER, of thecity oi New York, in the State of New York, have inventeda new anduseful Improvement inthe `Manner of Constructing Elastic Spring-Saddles;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription thereof.

My iirst improvement consists in the dividing of the saddletree into twoparts, and the manner of connecting these parts together so as to giveto the tree itself a degree of elasticity by which the horse is greatlyrelieved in his motions, and the rider is made to experience acorresponding degree ofease. y

Figure l, shows the tree and some of its appendages, without thecovering. The division in the tree is made at or near the point A, so asto separate the fore and hind parts of it from each other, on bothsides. C, is a strip of spring steel which is secured to the two parts,near its ends in such manner as to allow of their free motion to therequired extent.' B, is a spiral spring which is let into the wood ofthe tree, and is fastened at its two ends, near t-o the under side ofthe tree; it is in a state of tension,lso as todraw t-he two parts ofthe tree together downward, wihout impeding the action of the spring C;instead of the spiral spring B, I intend sometimes to employ a secondstrip of steel, similar to C, which is to be confined to the tree nearto the separation A, while its two ends are made to bear upon the twosections or" the tree. Between the leather seat and the tree I placespiral springs D, D, such as areused in sofas, and other articles whereelastic seats are` required. I also construct my girths so as to givethem a great degree of elasticity, with all the requisite firmness; thisI eiect as follows:

E, is a spiral spring, which is to be `incased with leather, and whichis to beat-` tached to the tree in the usual manner; it has a loop Eatits lower end to which a strap `is to be affixed.

H is the stirrup iron, or bar, and as this is made fast to the fore partof the tree, the eiect of this will be that when the rider bears uponthe stirrup the pressure being taken from the'seat the springs D, D,rise up in proportion to said pressure.

2, shows the saddle with the first cov- 3,35`3, dated Nbvember 24,lelie.`

cover, the springs D, D, being only confined down, the spring E, coveredwith leather, and the straps E, attached to them. The

spring girths thus formed will be found to` be more easy and secure thanany have been heretofore used with saddles, adjusting `Vering on it, andmade ready for the outside themselves to the bulk" and motions of theanimal in the most satisfactory manner.`

Ifig. 3 represents a ladys or side saddle, which like the one justdescribed may be divided into two parts, and held together in the mannerof the gentlemans saddle; but as I attach the horns to the body of thesaddle in a manner which allows to them a free elast-ic action; thedividing of the tree may be, in this case, dispensed with. Nos. a.

1, l, is the fore part of the tree; No. the

body, or seat, Nos. 3, 8, the heads orhorns.

T l i hos. 4l, l, aie spiral, or other springs which are placed betweenthe'lower s'ide of the i horns and the poininel of the saddle, saidpommel being inade Hat, as shown in the.` drawing, to adapt it to thesustaining of the springs 4, 4f; Nos. 5, A5, are groo-ved boxes,attached to the sides of the poininel, and

Nos. 6, 6, are sliding bolts made fast to the Ahorns and fitted into thegrooves in said boxes, so as to slide freely up and'dowii in them. Itwill be seen that by this arrange-l ment an elastic action will be givento the horns which will essentially relieve the rider, and will be, insome respects, similar to that produced by the divided tree. Nos; 7, "7,are spiral springs, arranged on the seat, as in Fig. `l, but not yetconfined down by any covering. Fig. 4, represents a saddle of the samekind, but with the irst covering placed thereon, by which the springs 7,7, are held in place, and the aperture hidden which contains theVsprings 4, Il. D, D, are the elastic spring girths, which are formed inthe manner already described.

E is the oiiside bar, to which the stirrup leather or strap, H H is tobe nailed. Then in usethis leather, orstrap, is to be brought under thebody of the horse, and passed through the stirrup bar F. The effectproduced by thus arranging the leather, orstrap H, will be that, whenthe ride-r presses upon the stirrup or slipper, G, the action of thestrap will be such as will tend to keep` the saddle upright on the backof the animal, and will afford a sense of security to a timid rider. i

Having' thus fully described the nature of my improvement, in elasticspring saddles, What I claim therein as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, isy 1. The giving of elasticity to the horns of a ladyssaddle, by making them separate from the body of the tree, andsustaining thereon by means of spiral orother springs, and slidingbolts, Whether said springs and bolts be arranged precise-ly in themanner above described, or in any other Which is substantially the sainein its action, and in the end attained.

2. I claim, also the manner of arranging the stirrup leather, or strap,in the ladys 15 saddle, by bringing it under the body of the horse andpassing' it through the stirrup bar, for the purpose above fully setforth.

ROBERT SPENCER.

Vitnesses:

T Hos. P. JONES, EDWIN L. BRUNDAGE.

